Apparatus for forming coils



March 4, 1969 M. MANN 3,430,474

APPARATUS FOR FORMING COILS Filed Jan. 10, 1967 Sheet of 2 March 4, 1969 M. MANN APPARATUS FOR FORMING CQILS Sheet 2 of 2 Filed Jan. 10, 1967 United States Patent Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE There is disclosed an apparatus for forming coils from tubing, wire and the like. This apparatus is portable and hand operable so as to be especially suitable for use in laboratories, small shops and the like. In the specific embodiment disclosed herein, the apparatus comprises a head structure having sets of tubing driving rollers at opposite sides thereof adapted to be driven in opposite directions for directing the tubing against a deflecting roller selectively positioned at opposite ends of the head structure. A handle is selectively positioned at opposite sides of the structure for driving the rollers. Clamping means is provided for securing the apparatus to an edge of the table or the like and for adjustment for selectively presenting opposite sides of the head structure facing outwardly from the table.

Numerous occasions have arisen during the course of work in laboratories or factories when a need for a special coil of tubing, wire or the like is present. In such instances, it has been necessary for a workman to form such coils by hand since there was either no coiling machinery available or it was impractical to set up a high production coiling machine to make a single coil or even a group of a few coils.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a novel coiler apparatus for tubing, wire, and the like which is portable and which may be easily set up in a laboratory or any other desired location for satisfying the demand for special coils.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel coiler apparatus which is constructed so that it may be easily mounted on any suitable base structure such as a standard bench or worktable.

Still another object of of the present invention is to provide a novel coiler apparatus which may be driven or actuated by hand.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel coiler apparatus of the above described type which is selectively adaptable for handling tubing or similar workpieces of different diameters.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel coiler apparatus of the above described type having elements at opposite sides thereof for processing workpieces of different diameters and constructed so that said such opposite sides may be selectively positioned facing outwardly from a bench or worktable for facilitating operation of the apparatus by a workman positioned adjacent the worktable.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel coiler apparatus of the above described type which is adapted to form both righthand and lefthand coils.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel coiler apparatus of the above described type which is of compact and simple construction which may be easily operated by unskilled workmen and which may be easily transported from place to place.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a portable coiler p Ce mechanism incorporating features of the present invention mounted on a base such as a bench or table;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken generally along line 44 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken generally along line 55 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing a portion of the coiler mechanism which functions directly to form or coil a workpiece;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view taken generally along line 77 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 88 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a perspecitve view showing a mounting block for a workpiece element incorporated in the coiler mechanism; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a forming or coiling element or roller adapted to be mounted in the block shown in FIG. 9.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, a coiler mechanism 20 incorporating features of the present invention is of relatively small and easily handled size and is adapted to be mounted on the edge of a base 22 such as bench or tabletop as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In general, the mechanism comprises a standard 24 having clamping means 26 connected with a lower end thereof for releasably securing the mechanism to the base 22 as will be described more in detail below. A head structure 28 is mounted on the standard and carries means 30 for forming an elongated workpiece such as a tube or wire 32 into a coil 34 as will be described hereinafter.

The standard 24 comprises an upstanding member 36 which is welded or otherwise secured at its lower end to a horizontal plate or foot 38. Opposite end portions 40 and 42 of the foot member extend laterally of opposite side edges of the upstanding member 36. An upper end of the member 36 is welded or otherwise secured to a plate 44.

The clamping means 26 is connected with the foot 38 of the standard so as to selectively enable reversal of the standard position with respect to the table and thereby permit reversal of the position of the head structure. In other words, the arrangement is such that the mechanism may be selectively mounted on the table so as to present either of the opposite sides of the head structure outwardly to permit easy access by an operator standing adjacent to the table.

The clamping means 26 comprises a pair of C-clamps 46 and 48. Manually operated clamping screws 50 and 52 extend through internally threaded end portions 54 and 56 of the C-clamps. Opposite ends 58 and 60 of the C-clamps are respectively connected to the end portions 40 and 42 of the foot member by swivel connectors 62 only one of which is seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. These swivel connectors or screws extend freely and rotatably through apertures in the foot member. Since these apertures are located in the end portions of the foot member which project laterally from opposite side edges of the upstanding member 36, the C-clamps are adapted to be pivoted or swung relative to the standard from the solid line position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to the broken line position shown in FIG. 2. As previously indicated this permits the coiler mechanism to be selectively mounted on the table with either of the opposite sides of the head structure facing outwardly.

The head structure 28 comprises opposite side frame members 64 and 66 which are secured to the top plate 44 of the standard. Spacer blocks 68 and 70 are secured between the side members and the top frame member 72 is secured by screws 74 and 76 threaded into the spacer blocks. Additional spacer blocks 78 and 80 are fixed between opposite end portions of the side frame members and are provided with inclined internally threaded apertures 82 and 84 for a purpose described below. In addition, guideways or slots 86 and 88 are formed in the opposite end portions of the side frame members parallel to the internally threaded apertures or bores 82 and 84 respectively for adjustably receiving a T-shaped slide member as will be hereinafter set forth.

The workpiece forming or coiling means 30 of the head structure comprises sets of workpiece driving rollers 90-92, 94-96, 98-100 and 102-104 at one side of the head structure. Substantially identical sets of workpiece driving rollers are also disposed at the opposite side of the head structure as indicated by the application of identical reference numerals with the suflix a added thereto. The rollers at the outside of the head structure differ only in that they are formed with peripheral workpiece accommodating grooves 106 and 106a which have a different radius so that the rollers are adapted to accommodate tubing or wires of different diameters. Opposite end rollers 90, 90a and 102, 102a have outer portions of the groove wall removed for permitting lateral deflection of the workpiece during a coiling operation.

The rollers 90 and 98 are mounted on a shaft or axle 108 extending between the side frame members of the head structure. The rollers 94 and 94a are mounted on a similar shaft 110 and still another shaft 112 supports the rollers 98 and 98a. An additional shaft 114 supports the rollers 102 and 102a. These shafts respectively carry gears 116, 118, 120 and 122 as shown best in FIG. 4. Mounted between these gears are idler gears 124, 126 and 128 so that a driving connection is formed between all the rollers.

The upper rollers 92 and 92a are carried by a shaft 130 which has opposite end portions extending into slide blocks 132 and 134 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. These blocks slidably extend into suitable notches 136 formed in the opposite side members of the head structure and are resiliently urged downwardly by springs 138 and 140. As a result, the rollers 92 and 92a are resiliently urged by the springs toward the rollers 90 and 90a so as drivingly to grip a workpiece therebetween during a coiling operation.

The remaining upper rollers 96-96a, 100-10011 and 104-104a are respectively carried by shafts 142, 144 and 146. These shafts are mounted in slide blocks which are constructed and spring biased in the same manner as blocks 132 and 134 so that these additional slide blocks and the slots in the side frame members in which they move need not be described in detail.

The upper roller shafts 130, 142, 144 and 146 also carry gears 148, 150, 152 and 154 respectively which mesh with the gears on the shafts of their associated lower rollers. Thus, all of the rollers are drivingly interconnected.

The coiler mechanism is adapted to be manually actuated. More specifically roller shaft 108 has end portions 148 and 150 projecting from opposite sides of the head structure. These end portions are adapted respectively to receive a manually operable handle member 152 as shown in solid and broken lines in FIG. 2. A set screw 154 or other suitable means releasably secures the handle member to the desired shaft end portion.

As will be discussed more fully hereinafter, the rollers are adapted to be driven in opposite directions so as to permit the tubing or workpiece to be driven in opposite directions for forming different types ofcoils. Thus, the roller shaft 114 is provided with oppositely extending end portions 156 and 158 as shown in FIG. 8. The handle member may be selectively secured on either of the end portions 156 and 158.

In addition to the plurality of driving rollers along opposite side of the head structure, the workpiece or tube forming or coiling means 30 includes deflecting elements 160 and 160a. These defletcing elements are respectively located in alignment with the path of travel of a workpiece being advanced by the sets of rollers at the opposite sides of the head structure. In the embodiment shown, the deflecting elements 160 and 160a are rollers. As shown best in FIGS. 6-9, the rollers 160 and 160a are respectively carried by yokes 162 and 162a having pins 164 and 164a projecting into an aperture in a split clamping block 1 66 and 166a. By loosening the set screw 168 associated with each of these clamping blocks, the rollers may be adjusted so as to vary the inclination of their axes of rotation relative to the parallel axes of rotation of the driver rollers. In addition, the block may be pivotally adjusted around pivot pins 167 and 167a. Clamping screws 16-9 and 169a secure the blocks in the desired adjusted position. This permits a change of the angle of deflection of the workpiece or tubing so as to adjust or change the pitch of a coil being formed.

The mounting blocks 166' and 166a are secured to a slide member 168 by the pivot pins and clamping screws, which slide member has a T portion 170 extending into the T-shaped guideways or slot means 8 8 in the sides of the head structure. As best shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, an adjusting screw 172 extends from a hand knob 17 4 overlying a flange 176 secured to the upper end of the slide 168. This adjusting screw is threaded to the previously described bore '84 in the block 80. With this construction, the slide 168 and thus the deflecting elements or rollers 160 and 160a may be adjusted by turning the hand knob 174. The adjustment of these deflecting elements or rollers diagonally of the longitudinal axis of the workpiece path of travel between the driving rollers enables an operator to adjust or change the diameter of the coil being formed.

As indicated in broken lines in FIG. 4, the slide 168 and the deflecting element or rollers carried thereby can be positioned at the opposite end of the head structure. Alternatively, the mechanism could be provided with another set of deflecting elements corresponding to the elements 160 and 160a.

When forming a coil with the mechanism of the present invention, the device is first mounted on a table or bench as shown in FIG. 1 so that a desired side thereof faces outwardly toward the operator. Then after the handle member has been secured to one of the outwardly projecting shaft end portions and the outwardly facing deflecting element or roller has been properly adjusted, an end of the tubing or workpiece 32 is inserted between the driver rollers and the handle is manually rotated. This action causes the tubing to be driven by the plurality of pairs of drive rollers forwardly along a predetermined path of travel and toward the right as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 4. Continued movement of the tubing causes it to engage the deflecting roller 160 which, in combination with the adjacent driving roller, causes forming of the tubing into a coil having a spiral ofone hand.

If it is desired to form the same diameter tubing with a spiral of the opposite hand, the deflecting element is positioned at the opposite end of the head structure as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4. In addition, the handle is moved to and secured on the end of the shaft 114 whereupon the mechanism is manually actuated for driving the tubing toward the left as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 4.

As previously indicated, the rollers on one side of the head structure are adapted to accommodate a workpiece or tubing having one diameter while the rollers on the opposite side are adapted to accommodate tubing of another diameter. When it is desired to utilize the rollers at the opposite side of the head structure from that shown in FIG. 1, the clamping devices are loosened whereupon the mechanism is turned around so that the desired side faces outwardly. At the same time the clamping devices are swung with respect to the standard so they are in the relative position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2 which enables them to be applied over the margin of the tabletop or base member 22.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A portable coiler mechanism for forming a coil from an elongated workpiece such as a tube and the like, comprising support means, a head structure having opposite sides mounted on said support means, first and second workpiece driving roller means disposed at opposite sizes of said head structure, workpiece deflecting means on said head structure in alignment with the driving roller means for forming a workpiece being driven by the roller means into a coil, means selectively positionable at said opposite sides of said head structure for actuating said driving roller means, said support means being removably mountable on a base such as a table and the like, and attachment means shiftably connected with said support means for selectively reversibly securing said support means to the base so as selectively to position said opposite sides of the head structure toward an operator standing adjacent said base.

2. A portable coiler mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the roller means at opposite sides of the head structure comprises a plurality of sets of rollers, gear means on said head structure drivingly interconnecting their rollers, said gear means including shaft at said opposite sides of said head structure, and said means for actuating said driver roller means comprising a manually operable handle member selectively connectable with the shaft at said opposite sides of the head structure.

3. A portable coiler mechanism, as defined in claim 2, wherein said gear means and said roller means are reversible, and means on said head structure for selectively mounting said deflector means adjacent opposite ends of the head structure for selectively adapting the mechanism to form righthand and lefthand coils.

4. A portable coiler mechanism, as defined in claim 2, which includes a plurality of shafts rotatably mounted in said head su'ucture each of said shafts carrying one roller of each of said sets of rollers, and spring means in said head structure resiliently biasing said shafts and the rollers thereon toward the remaining of said rollers for enabling the rollers of each set to grip a workpiece therebetween.

5. A portable coiler mechanism as defined in claim 4, wherein the rollers at one side of said head structure have peripheral groove means of a first predetermined radius for accommodating workpieces having a first predetermined diameter, and said rollers at the opposite side of said head structure have peripheral groove means having a second and difierent diameter.

6. A manually operable portable coiler mechanism for forming an elongated workpiece such as a tube and the like into a coil, comprising a standard, means connected with said standard for releasably securing the standard to a base such as table and the like, a head structure mounted on said standard, drive roller means mounted on said head structure for driving a workpiece along a predetermined path of travel, a deflector element mounted on said head structure in alignment with said path of travel for forming said workpiece into a coil, gear means on said head structure and drivingly interconnectable with said roller means, said gear means including a shaft, and a manually operable handle member connected with said shaft for enabling manual driving of said roller means.

7, A manually operable portable coiler mechanism, as defined in claim 6, which includes sets of said drive roller means disposed along opposite sides of said head structure, said roller means at opposite sides of said structure having peripheral groove means for accommodating workpieces of ditferent diameters, said mechanism comprising a deflector element at said opposite sides of the head structure for forming workpieces driven by the rollers at the opposite sides of the head structure.

8. A coiler mechanism, as defined in claim 7, wherein said means connected with said standard for releasably securing the standard to a base comprises C-clamp means, and swivel connection means between said C-clamp means and said standard for enabling the C-clamp means to be reversed relative to the standard and thereby enabling the standard to be selectively positioned with said opposite sides facing outwardly from the base.

9. A coiler mechanism, as defined in claim 8, wherein said gear means includes shaft portions at said opposite sides of the head structure, said handle member being selectively connectable with said shaft portions for enabling an operator to actuate the mechanism selectively from said opposite sides.

10. A manually operable portable coiler mechanism, as defined in claim 9, wherein said gear means and roller means are reversible, said mechanism including means for selectively positioning said deflector elements adjacent opposite ends of their structure for enabling the mechanism selectively to be actuated for making right and lefthand coils.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 928,073 7/1909 Schneider 72--175 2,179,389 11/1939 Turner et al 72-138 2,349,828 5/1944 Moray 72138 X 3,195,338 7/1965 Bram 72138 MILTON S. MEI-IR, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 72173 

